Sunday, May 18, 2014

Restoration

Some nun 'who did a course', presumably, had imposed her understanding of liturgy on this building and on the community that used it, now the parish priest has restored it.

I'm not too sure I see the point of two altars on one sanctuary but I like the idea of the priest moving from 'worship space' back to 'church'. It is emblematic of so much that has happened in the last few years; the recognition that our faith is deeply rooted in the past, that it did not emerge from some year zero around 1970.
This is the unfocussed mess the nun designed What is it saying, what sign is being given? The obvious answer is confusion, uncertainty, a lack of integrity, cheapness, fabrication. I can't understand the 'pinkness' either, what is that about; sister's lipstick?.
(thanks to Sergio)

$2,300,000 to undo the previous 'work' on the church - that certainly was one *very* high-maintenance nun! :-)

Like Father Ray, I was disappointed by the presence of the second altar - it looks as if the parish sees the High Altar as a background, and hasn't got to grips with this 'new-fangled' ad orientem thingy, or perhaps Fr Cunningham doesn't want to chance his arm just yet against the old guard.But nor if they have an expensively specially restored organ should they need (sigh!) an electric guitar (visible at 03.17 in the video). The parish priest is explaining 'We try to create an atmosphere where it's bright, it's airy it's...prayerful' and on that word 'prayerful' the camera pans down and there to the left of the altar the obligatory elderly troubador hoves into view, hunched over the obligatory microphone. A moment for ironists to savour.

But still, it's a great new start for this Brooklyn parish church, and now all that's needed is some adventurous spirit to think of a creative use for that lovely High Altar...Maybe, even, the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite?

In a Somerset parish which I used to attend, the PP sought to bring the altars back to a semblance of Catholicism - mainly by returning the tabernacle to the pre-eminent position. The pulpit, which was still in use, had, as normal, a crucifix attached to the rear wall. Some diocesan specialist, approving the changes, banned that crucifix remaining where it was banished.

Ubi Petrus, ibi ecclesia, et ubi ecclesia vita eterna

Pray for Francis our Pope, and for the Church of God

My Parish's Website

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